Pennine Way Run

Pennine Way Run

An iconic self-guided trail running holiday from Edale to Kirk Yetholm through the Peak District, Pennines, Yorkshire and Northumberland.

3 to 16 nights
38-261 miles
Moderate to Strenuous

From £385 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

From the heart of the Peak District all the way up to Scotland, the Pennine Way is a legendary trail that follows England’s backbone through the best wilderness of the north. But don’t picture the cold slog of the Spine Race when you look at this route. Undertaken in good weather and with reasonable daily mileages, this challenging trail run offers unique and staggering views like the great scoop of High Cup Nick. Villages nestled in the crooks of the Pennines and the Cheviot Hills provide memorable rest stops, and you’ll even visit a stretch of Hadrian’s Wall. The Pennine Way is full of challenging terrain, but its remote spaces offer endless rewards. A classic challenge.

Choose your route

  • Pennine Way Run
  • Pennine Way Run - South Section
  • Pennine Way Run - North Section
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Pennine Way Short Running Break

Dog friendly tours available

Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.

Walking tours available

We also organise walking holidays along this route. Find out more.

About this route

6 to 8 nights
120 miles
Moderate to Strenuous
1st April to 20th October

From £780 per person

Pennine Way Run - North Section

From Middleton-in-Teesdale, the northern section of the Pennine Way heads north through the North Pennines, across the best-preserved and most dramatic stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, through Northumberland National Park and over the challenging border ridge of the Cheviot Hills.

This trail running holiday is demanding, full of huge views won by long climbs, and remote, with long stretches far out of sight of civilisation. But with good preparation you’ll enjoy real immersion in the high places of the border territories, where a stiff breeze and a clear trail will keep your feet moving for miles. This section of the route is well known for the friendly welcome of its inns, where you can relax and recuperate after a fantastic day’s run.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
R-PENN1 From Middleton-in-Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm 6 nights, 5 days running Strenuous £780
R-PENN2 From Middleton-in-Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm 7 nights, 6 days running Moderate / Demanding £890
R-PENN3 From Middleton-in-Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm 8 nights, 7 days running Moderate £1015

Pennine Way Trail Run - North Section 6 nights, 5 days running

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights
Start

Travel to Middleton-in-Teesdale where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

Middleton-in-Teesdale to Dufton(T). 20 miles (32km) / 2014 ft (614 m) ascent

Day 2

Dufton(T) to Alston. 19.5 miles (31km) / 3209 ft (978 m) ascent

Day 3

Alston to Once Brewed. 23 miles (36.5km) / 2805 ft (855 m) ascent

Day 4

Once Brewed to Byrness(L). 30.5 miles (48.5km) / 3307 ft (1008 m) ascent

Day 5

Byrness(L) to Kirk Yetholm. 27 miles (43km) / 4475 ft (1364 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Kirk Yetholm after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£75.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£60.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Pennine Way Run - North Section map
Middleton-in-Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm
120 miles (191 km)
1st April to 20th October

Holiday highlights

Spending your nights in peaceful hamlets and villages such as Byrness.

Triumphing over the border ridge of the Cheviot Hills, arguably the most exhilarating section of the trail, with bold vistas from Windy Gyle and the Schill.

Running through the historic landscape of Northumberland and the Scottish Borders as you head along Hadrian's Wall and visit Housesteads Roman Fort en route to Kirk Yetholm.

What's included?

  • 6 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

As the Pennine Way is one of the toughest trails available to run in the UK, it may be worth considering adding a few extra nights into your holiday to give you time to recover in between stints as you race along England's iconic backbone.

The market settlement of Alston, alternatively, is nestled in the heather-clad landscape with far-reaching views in all directions. With steep cobbled streets and ancient stone buildings dating as far back as the 17th century, Alston has a rich history specialising in lead mining that can be discovered at the nearby Nenthead Mines Heritage centre. If you choose to spend an extra night here, be sure to sample the village's many locally-produced specialities including Cumberland mustard and Alston Cheese, as well as enjoying the friendly atmosphere and a drink in The Angel Inn.

Once Brewed is another good choice for a rest day, particularly if you're looking for a quiet place in which to relax. The village is nestled in some of the most beautiful countryside along the trail and would be perfect for a gentle jog around the local area to get you warmed up for the rest of your holiday. The Twice Brewed Inn is a famous pub that also makes its home here, and is a great place to unwind at the end of the day and enjoy some delicious food and drinks.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 119.5 miles (191 km)
Duration: 6 nights, 5 days running
Minimum daily distance: 19.5 miles (31 km)
Maximum daily distance: 30.5 miles (48.5 km)
Code: R-PENN1 Grade: Strenuous
Season: 1st April - 20th October
Start of holiday: Middleton-in-Teesdale
End of holiday: Kirk Yetholm

Route Profile

Pennine Way Trail Run - North Section Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

By Rail - The nearest station to the start of the trail (Middleton-in-Teesdale) is at Kirkby Stephen (20.3 miles), but the most convenient/major train station is at Darlington (25 miles). The nearest rail station to the end of the trail (Kirk Yetholm) is at Berwick-upon-Tweed (about 22.5 miles away).

By Bus - There is no bus service from Kirkby Stephen to Middleton-in-Teesdale and options from Darlington are rather lengthly, so a taxi is recommended. There is no viable public transport option from Kirk Yetholm to Berwick-Upon-Tweed, so a taxi will be required.

From London - Trains run directly from London Kings Cross station to Darlington station.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail is to take a taxi from Kirk Yetholm to Berwick-upon-Tweed rail station. Then from here you will need to catch the train to Darlington. You will need to another taxi to complete your journey to Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.